The March
of Dimes, the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the Kentucky Hospital
Association, the state's Medicaid managed care organizations and several
hospitals across the state have partnered in an effort to limit elective premature
deliveries to 3 percent or less by the end of next year. The goal was set by
the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Kentucky Hospital
Association project director, nurse Donna Meador, says the KHA network has 16
hospitals that are part of the project. She said the average rate now for
elective premature births at the participating hospitals in her networks is 12
percent.
